Evaluation of quality, content and use of the website prepared for family members giving care stroke patients

This study was conducted in order to evaluate quality, content, usability, and efficacy of the website prepared for the purpose of improving the care-giving capability of family members who provide care stroke patients at home. The study was conducted methodologically. Website prepared for caregivers of stroke patients involves seven sections as home page, about project, patient care and training guide, expert module, forum, and patient survey. Being peculiar to the stroke patient care; the website contains information on stroke, course of stroke, respiration, nutrition, excretion and sleep problems, prevention of bedsores, pain management, body hygiene, use of medications, communication with the patient, leisure time activities for the patient, patient's safety, social and rehabilitation support services. In order to improve the care-giving capability of family members, short videos were made about live models or dummies that provide information on respiration exercises, postural drainage, oral care, catheter care, perineum care, lying positions in bed and arm and leg exercises. Quality and content of the website were evaluated by 10 experts independently from one another. Usability and efficacy of the website were assessed by 38 family caregivers of 32 stroke patients. While quality of the website was evaluated by experts with DISCERN scale, its content was assessed by using the questionnaire. Website's usability was evaluated by the family caregivers with the system usability scale (SUS). Level of utilization from the website was measured with a 21-item questionnaire. Mean of fifteen questions on DISCERN scale was found to be 4.35 over 5. Mean score of the first section that questions reliability of the website was 4.38 over 5, mean score of the second section that measures quality of the provided information on treatment/care options was 4.30; and mean score of the third section which gives a general evaluation of the material was 4.1. Concordance coefficient values for each section were respectively determined as W: .508, p<0.000, W: .442, p<0.000, and W: .761, p<0.000. The website's content was scored as averagely 3.47 over 4 by experts (W: .813, p<0.000). The website's usability score was found to be 79.4 over 100. Website was utilized mostly for exercises in bed (76.3%) (n=29), use of medications and patient safety (68.4%) (n=26). It was determined that those who were younger, employed and had no previous experience of nursing any patient utilized relatively more from the section of patient's nutrition and oral care (respectively p=0.042, p=0.34, p=0.39) and married family caregivers from the body hygiene section (p=0.043). The website was efficiently used by caregivers. Studies on effects of use of the website on patient results in the long term and its efficiency and cost in comparison with other teaching methods could be conducted. Keywords:Stroke Patient, Family Caregiver, Web-based Health Training, Quality and Content Reliability